First Mining Discovers Significant New Gold Zone for Immediate Expansion at the Duparquet Gold Project

Core Insights - The Duparquet Gold Project has made a significant discovery with the newly identified "Minuit" zone, which is located 75 meters north of the historical Donchester Mine, showing promising gold intercepts [1][7][9] - Drill hole DUP25-059 returned notable results, including 2.25 g/t Au over 12.8 meters and 1.21 g/t Au over 60.2 meters, indicating strong mineralization and continuity in the resource area [1][2][11] - The project is positioned to become one of the largest gold deposits in the Abitibi region, with ongoing exploration activities aimed at expanding resource potential [3][5][14] Exploration and Drilling Results - The 2025 exploration program has drilled approximately 9,300 meters to date, with a total of 18,000 meters planned for the year, focusing on resource expansion targets [5][14] - Significant intercepts from drill hole DUP25-059 include 4.08 g/t Au over 4.0 meters within the Minuit zone and 4.1 g/t Au over 4.3 meters within Zone 3 [4][12] - The Minuit zone is interpreted to extend 315 meters to the west of DUP25-059, suggesting further exploration potential [9][10] Geological Context - The Minuit zone is associated with a geological structure characterized by a 45-degree offset, which has led to the discovery of new mineralization trends [8][9] - The historical Beattie mine, which operated from 1933 to 1956, produced over 1.24 million ounces of gold, providing a favorable geological backdrop for current exploration efforts [6][14] - The Duparquet Project is strategically located along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone, enhancing its accessibility and potential for resource development [15][14] Resource Estimates - The Duparquet Project currently hosts an NI 43-101 compliant gold resource of 3.44 million ounces in the Measured & Indicated category, grading 1.55 g/t Au, and an additional 2.64 million ounces in the Inferred category, grading 1.62 g/t Au [14][15] - The ongoing exploration and recent discoveries are expected to contribute to the growth of these resource estimates, enhancing the project's overall attractiveness [3][5][14]